What a busy start to 2010!

I can’t believe how much has already happened in 2010 – it’s only the 22nd of January, but already signs are looking really positive for an excellent year!

This leaves me wondering as to what has changed? Is it that the economy is genuinely improving? It certainly seems that way with improved unemployment figures released this week, although the cynic in me can’t help but wonder if there is more than a little political “spin” going on in the run up to the election….. I will wait until after the general election until I truly let myself believe that the recession is over. Luckily though, and perhaps due to the time that I set up Chilli Promotions, I can honestly say that I haven’t noticed the effect of the global economic down turn – if anything, I’d say it has helped me! Strange thing to say I realise, but if I’d been as busy as I am now this time last year, I don’t think I could have coped! In the early part of last year I really kept myself busy, ensuring I was proactively promoting Chilli Promotions (www.chillipromotions.co.uk) at every opportunity – I was developing my brand through networking and now I am delighted that a year or so on, I am really seeing the benefit.

I’ve noticed a marked increase in referrals over the last couple of months and this has helped me tremendously, and I am very thankful to a number of networking contacts I’ve made for the help and support they have given me. Particular thanks would go to Stefan Thomas of No Red Braces (www.noredbraces.co.uk) for his invaluable tips on how to make the most out of networking – both on and offline. I would also like to thank Gail Sampson of Knockbuckle Associates (www.knockbuckle.com) who noticed a lead for me on the 4Networking website (www.4networking.biz) which I was able to turn into an order the same day.

I find that networking, both on and offline really does work for me, and I would urge people who don’t think it’s for them to give it another go… it isn’t an overnight fix, but if you be yourself, be helpful and really get to know people, the effect on your business will be phenomenal in time. 

My advice therefore, (to anyone who is interested!!) is to get networking – it’s fun and IT WILL develop your business!  A few mediums I would recommend include Twitter (follow me www.twitter.com/chillipromotion), 4 Networking (www.4networking.biz),  and local business networking groups such as Business Matters and Banbury Business Breakfast Club, both in Banbury, 729 Club in Chipping Norton.  Get out there and get known!  It will help develop your brand far more quickly than you imagine!

Networking in the Banbury Area

 When I started Chilli Promotional Products in 2008, I made the decision that I wanted to focus on local businesses, and with an active local business networking community I dedicated a large percentage of my marketing budget to “networking”.   What I don’t think I’d realised is just how many variations of basically the same idea there were, and having been a regular attendee of a number of meetings with a number of different formats I have started to wonder what makes them successful?

 

I am a member of Business Matters in Banbury (www.businessmatterbanbury.co.uk), a group that was started by former members of the very structured international networking forum BNI, who had a vision to mix serious business breakfast networking on a member’s and member’s guests only basis, with a more informal and relaxed evening meeting open to all.  This format has worked really well and the evening meetings have proven to be a huge success with many new people attending each month. The committee have recently been wondering how to improve the breakfast meetings and get new visitors which led to a conversation at today’s meeting about what us, as members, would like… this really made me think about what it is that makes some formats more successful than others, and also having sat in a room of business people this morning, how different formats work for different businesses.

 

From my point of view, nearly every company will at some point want to purchase some form of branded merchandise whether it be pens, mugs, umbrella’s, USB flash drives, clothing or a more unusual item. Therefore I think it is important for me to meet lots of people, and build strong relationships, helping people with introductions wherever possible in the hope that people will then think of me when they, or someone they know needs a marketing gift.  For other people, their prospect / client base is far more specific and what therefore would work for them can also be more specific.

 

I really enjoy a mixture of breakfasts, evenings and when time permits lunches.  I like to see a mixture of people I know well and new contacts and I enjoy the mixture of formats of the different groups I attend; some have a speaker, some have activities and some are purely open networking.  Some are formal, some relaxed, but all, in their own way seem to work for me to a degree whether it be in terms of meeting potential clients, obtaining advice and knowledge from others in the same geographical market, enjoying a glass of wine with likeminded people, or on a more personal level meeting people such as hairdressers or a lawyer to facilitate my will writing.   

 

One thing I find really surprising is how differently people react after meeting at a networking event… it amazes me that some people are happy to get up at the crack of dawn, or to give up a valuable evening with their family to go to a networking event and then you never see / hear from them again, on the other hand there are the people who bombard you with impersonal sales e-mails immediately after the event even though they have no idea if what they are selling is of any interest to you and your business.  Why does it appear to be so difficult to find the happy medium?  I hope I have found this middle ground, but who really knows as it really does appear that everyone is different!

 

I’d be really interested to hear your views on what makes networking successful, and to hear about other groups within the local area.

 

Here are details of the groups that I attend and would recommend.

 

Business Matters Banbury www.businessmattersbanbury.co.uk

Brackley Means Business www.brackleymeansbusiness.co.uk

Banbury Business Breakfast Club www.banburybreakfastclub.co.uk

Chipping Norton 729 Club www.729club.co.uk

Banbury Business Women www.banburybusinesswomen.co.uk